Cracker-box.



l PATENTED MAR. l2, 190?. J. H. BYRNE. GRACKER B0X.-v APPLIGATION EILED FEB. 7. 1906.

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PATENT oEEioE.

JoSEPE E. BYRNEoEPrTTsBURe, PENNSYLVANIA.

` @HACKER-Box.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 12, 1907.

Application filed February '7, 1906. Serial No. 299,915.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH I-I. BYRNE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cracker-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the -accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cracker-boxes; and. the invention has for its primary object to provide a folding or collapsible cracker or cake box which when empty can be folded into a comparatively small form, whereby it will occupy a comparatively small space when stored away.

My invention relates particularly to that type of metallic box commonly employed for housing and displaying crackers and cakes in a grocery store, the boxes being supplied and filled at the cracker and cake factory and delivered to grocerymen with the understanding that the boxes when empty are to be returned to their original owner or the manufacturer of the crackers and cakes. This necessitates a return shipment of the boxes, which occupy a large space in a car or wagon in their usual form.

My invention aims to provide a crackerbox of a strong and durable nature in which crackers or cakes may be transported and when emptied by a groceryman folded into a compact form, whereby a large number of the boxes will occupy a comparatively small space and reduce the expense of the return shipment. In this connection I also protect the boxes when in a folded form and prevent 'the same from being injured when roughly handled.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and, referring to the drawing accompanying this application, like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which- Figure 1. is a perspective view of the main framework of my improved box, illustrating the lid thereof in a slightly-elevated position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the box folded or collapsed. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the box in a setup form. Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view of the same, and Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the box in a closed or collapsed position.

The main framework of my improved box is preferably constructed of light and durable metal and consists of two substantially rectangular frames 1 and 2, the frame 1 forming the front of the box, while the frame 2 forms the rear of the box. The frame 1 has its sides flanged, as at 3 Sand 4 4, while the front 'of the frame is provided with a large rectangular opening 5, which is covered by a piece of glass 6, the glass being held in engagement with the frame by clamps 7 or the like fastening means. The top of the frame 1 forms the space 8, which may be used for advertising ,purposes or for a label designating the kind of cakes or crackers contained within the box.

The rear frame 2 is flanged, as at 9 9 and 1.0 10, the flanges 9 9 near their upper ends being provided with. outwardly-extending pins 11 11.

The frames 1 and 2 are connected together by angle-strips 12, said strips being pivotally connected to the flanges 10 and 4 4, as at 14, while the ends of said strips are hinged together by a conventional form of hinges 15.

Mounted upon the top of the frames 1 and 2 is a metallic lid 16, having depending flanges 17 and 18 18. The fianges 18 1S are provided with longitudinally-disposed slots 19 19, in which the pins 11 of the frame 2 en gage.

In the framework of my improved box I employ a detachable metallic bottom plate 2O and side walls 21 21, said walls being preferably made from pasteboard, wood, or the like inexpensive material. The bottom plate 20 together with the side walls 21 21 are placed in the framework of the cracker-box when said box is to be filled with crackers or cakes, the crackers and cakes serving to retain the side walls in engagement with the flanges 3 3 and 9 9 of the frames 1 and 2, also the angle-strips 12, connecting said frames. In this form the lid 16 is adapted to fit over the top of the box and form practically an air-tight compartment for the crackers and cakes. rlfhe box will be prevented from collapsing by the bottom plate 20, together 'with the contents of the box.

To fold or collapse my improved box, the base-plate 2O is folded upwardly in the rear frame 2 of the box, and the side walls 21 21 are placed upon the base-plate 20 in the rear IOO IIO

frame .2 of the box. The lid 16 is then raised to the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings and moved rearwardly until it has assumed a position upon the rear frame 2 simil lar to that shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The hinged and pivoted strips l2 are then swung inwardly and the front frame l moved rearwardly upon the frame 2 until the strips 12, side Walls 21 21, and bottom plate 2O have been housed and inclosed between the frames 1 and 2, as clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 of thewdrawing. In this form the cracker-box occupies approximately onefourth the space occupied by it when in a setup form, consequently permitting of a great many folded boxes being stored away in a comparatively small space.

In the accompanying drawing 1 have simply illustrated the principle of my invention, and 1 do not care to confine myself to the size and minor details oi' construction entering into the invention, and such changes as are permissible by the appended claims may be resorted to without departing 'from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A box of the type described embodying two frames, a transparent plate carried by one of said frames, outwardly-extending pins carried by the upper edges of the other of said frames, angle-strips pivotally connected to the top and bot-tom edges of said frames and having their ends hinged together7 a bottom plate detachably mounted in said frames, side walls mounted in said frames, and a lid slidably mounted upon said pins and adapted to engage the top and back of said box, substantially as described.

2. A box of the type described embodying two frames, a transparent plate carried by one of said frames, hinged strips connecting said frames, a bottom plate detachably mounted in said frames, side walls carried by said frames, and a lid slidably connected to said box, substantially as described.

3. A box of the type described embodying flanged frames, hinged stripsconnecting said frames, a bottom plate loosely mounted in said frames, side walls loosely mounted in said frame, and a lid connected to one ofsaid frames, substantially as described.

4. A box of the type described embodying two collapsible frames, side walls mounted in said frames, a bottom plate mounted in said frames, a lid loosely mounted upon one of said frames, slotted iianges on the sides of said cover, outwardly-projecting pins on the sides of the upper frames and loosely fitting in the slots in said cover-flanges, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof I aHix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JGSEPH H. BYRNE.

Witnesses:

E. E. POTTER, H. C. EVERT. 

